Degree Programmes, Grading Scheme, Admission Requirements

Academic Year at the University of Szeged:

The academic year is divided into an Autumn and a Spring semester each of them consisting of 14 weeks of teaching and a six-week exam period. Our up-to-date academic calendar can be checked here

Higher education institutions in Hungary apply a credit system based on the European Credit Transfer System. Accordingly, one credit stands for 30 hours of student workload.*

Methods of assessment:

on the basis of written and oral examinations, course work, assignments etc.

Organisation of Studies

Students studying in Bachelor and Master courses complete their studies by passing a final examination. The final examination may consist of the defence of the degree thesis, and additional oral, written or practical examinations.

Integrated "Long" (One-tier) Programmes*

An undivided one-tier programme resulting in mesterfokozat (Master degree) is a training with the length of 10-12 semesters, requiring the completion of 300-360 credits. Besides religious education and some programmes of arts, the following programmes are conducted within one-tier Master courses: veterinary medicine, architecture, dentistry, pharmaceutics, law and medicine.

First/Second Degree Programmes (Two-tier)*

The first higher education degree is the alapfokozat (Bachelor degree) along with a professional qualification. A Bachelor course requires gaining 180-240 credits. The length of the programme is 6-8 semesters.

The second higher education degree is the mesterfokozat (Master degree) along with a professional qualification. Built on a Bachelor course Master courses require gaining 60-120 credits. The length of the programme is 2-4 semesters.

Specialised Graduate Studies*

Higher education institutions may also offer szakirányú továbbképzés (postgraduate specialist training) for Bachelor and Master degree holders. Through the completion of 60-120 credits a specialised qualification can be obtained. Students complete their studies by passing a final examination. The length of the programme is 2-4 semesters.

Built on a Master course and a Master degree the doktori képzés (Doctorate course) requires gaining at least 180 credits. The length of the programme is 6 semesters. Following a Doctorate course, in a separate degree awarding procedure, the scientific degree "Doctor of Philosophy" (abbreviation: PhD), or in art education "Doctor of Liberal Arts" (abbreviation: DLA) may be awarded.

Grading Scheme*

The assessment of knowledge is generally carried out according to a five-grade scale: excellent (5), good (4), satisfactory (3), pass (2), and fail (1) or a three-grade scale: excellent (5), satisfactory (3), fail (1). Nevertheless, higher education institutions may also use other systems for assessing if they are comparable to those mentioned above.

Access to Higher Education*

The number of students admitted to higher education is limited. Applicants' ranking is based on their secondary school grades and their érettségi vizsga (secondary school leaving examination) results or based solely on the latter, considering the interest of the applicant. The requirement for admission to Bachelor and undivided one-tier Master courses is the secondary school leaving examination taken - as a rule - after the completion of the 12th grade of a secondary school, certified by Érettségi bizonyítvány (secondary school leaving certificate). The admission to certain programmes is based on an additional aptitude test or a practical examination. To Master courses students can be admitted if they possess Főiskolai oklevél (college-level degree) or Egyetemi oklevél (university-level degree) or a Bachelor degree. To postgraduate specialist training students can be admitted if they possess college- or university-level degree, or a Bachelor or a Master degree. Only applicants with university-level degree or Master degree may be admitted to Doctorate courses. Higher education institutions may set additional requirements for admission to Master, postgraduate specialist and Doctorate courses.

Based on the home page of the Ministry of Education and Culture ,
Source: http://www.okm.gov.hu/main.php?folderID=2132&articleID=231261&ctag=articlelist&iid=1

       Y = 1 full academic year
       1S = 1 semester                      2S = 2 semesters
       1T = 1 term/trimester              2T = 2 terms/trimesters

(3) Description of the institutional grading system and its adequacy to ECTS Grading system:

Hungarian Grade (Five-point scale)		ECTS Grade system
*Grade*	*Definition*	*ECTS Grade*	*% of successful students normally achieving the grade*	*Definition*
5 – *jeles*	*Excellent, Very good* Outstanding with minor errors	A	10	EXCELLENT - outstanding performance with only minor errors
5 – *jeles*	*Excellent, Very good* Outstanding with minor errors	B	25	VERY GOOD - above the average standard but with some errors
4 – jó	*Good* Generally sound work with a number of notable errors	C	30	GOOD - generally sound work with a number of notable errors
3 – *közepes*	*Satisfactory, Acceptable* Fair but with significant shortcomings	D	25	SATISFACTORY - fair but with significant shortcomings
2 – *elégséges*	*Pass* Performance meets the minimum criteria	E	10	SUFFICIENT - performance meets the minimum criteria
1 – *elégtelen*	*Fail* Further work is required	FX	-	FAIL - some more work required before the credit can be awarded
1 – *elégtelen*	*Fail* Further work is required	F	-	FAIL - considerable further work is required

       1 full academic year   =          60 credits
       1 semester                   =          30 credits
       1 term/trimester                       =          20 credits

Source: Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture
http://www.okm.gov.hu/main.php?folderID=181